BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Cal Ripken Jr., arguably the greatest
player in Baltimore Orioles' history, called it a career. For
Boston Red Sox starter, David Cone, this season was more like a
rebirth.

Ripken, the future Hall of Famer who many credit with saving the
national pastime, went 0-for-3 in his 3,001st and final game, a
5-1 loss to the Red Sox.

"It was totally overwhelming," Ripken said. "It blows you away.
Those are the feelings you get. ... I don't have one thing, there
was just emotion and excitement all day for me. The outpouring
of love from the fans was pretty overwhelming."

Baseball's Iron Man, Ripken captivated the nation in September
1995 with his assault on the consecutive games played streak
held by legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig.
Ripken broke Gehrig's record on September 5, 1995 and ran his
streak to 2,632 games.

Honored before and after the game, Ripken failed to deliver in
his final game the way he did on that September night in 1995 or
in this year's All-Star Game, when he homered en route to Most
Valuable Player honors.

Ripken lined out to left field in the second, popped out to
shortstop in the fifth and skied to center in the eighth. He was
in the on-deck circle when Brady Anderson struck out to end the
game.

"I would have liked to get another (at-bat) after Brady," Ripken
said. "But I gave it my best effort and I'm happy with that."

Both teams discussed the possibility of Boston walking Anderson
to bring Ripken to the plate one last time.

"I didn't really because of the integrity of the game," Red Sox
manager Joe Kerrigan said. "That is what Cal Ripken stands for
-- the integrity of the game."

While Ripken's career came to an end, Cone capped a remarkable
turnaround with one of his best outings of the season. The
38-year-old, who was an abysmal 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA last season
with the Yankees, allowed an unearned run and three hits over
eight innings.

After signing with Boston as a free agent in the offseason, Cone
was injured coming out of spring training and did not join the
team until mid-May. He did not win until June 8 but he ran off
seven straight victories and was Boston's best pitcher when ace
Pedro Martinez began experiencing shoulder problems.

Cone (9-7) did not finish strongly, dropping five straight
decisions before Saturday, but he looked as strong as ever
against the Orioles. And unlike last season, he probably will
get to decide his fate should he choose to return in 2002.

"I challenged them with my best fastball," said Cone, who
allowed three earned runs or less in 21 of 25 starts this
season. "They swung well the first inning. But I used my best
fastball all night."

"Give Cone credit," Red Sox first baseman Brian Daubach said.
"The way he kept them off balance."

Ugueth Urbina followed Cone with a scoreless inning as the Red
Sox concluded the season at 82-79 -- a three-game dropoff from
2000. The damage to the franchise was worst than that as
manager Jimy Williams was fired, players revolted and management
came under fire for questionable moves. All of this occurred
while the future of the team's ownership remains muddled.

Baltimore finished 64-98, 10 games worse than last year, but
manager Mike Hargrove kept his team competitive despite
disappointing performances by a couple of key veterans. Hargrove
also was asked to break in and evaluate some of the Orioles'
younger players.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by
Jeff Conine that scored Tim Raines Jr. But Boston took a 2-1
lead on Dante Bichette's 12th homer, a two-run shot off Orioles
starter Rick Bauer in the second.

Jose Offerman made it 4-1 in the fifth on Offerman's ninth home
run, a two-run shot off Bauer. Boston picked up its final run
in the ninth on an RBI double by Joe Oliver that scored Lou
Merloni.

Bauer allowed four runs in seven innings and fell to 0-5.
Baltimore did not win any of his six starts this season. In
Bauer's defense, the Orioles have scored just eight runs while
he has been in the game.

Buddy Groom retired a batter in the eighth and joined Colorado's
Mike Myers as the the only pitchers to appear in 60 straight
games in six straight seasons.

After the game, two of Ripken's veteran teammates reflected on
the night.

"I don't think it will hit us until spring training when we see
his locker is not there," Conine said. "I don't want to think
about it now. I am going to miss him. This was an incredible
celebration for baseball tonight."

"It was a great night for Cal and the fans of Baltimore,"
Baltimore shortstop Mike Bordick said. "There is a Ripken legacy
here in this city. The end of his career is sad for the
baseball community but the career is also a tribute to what
baseball can do -- it lifts spirits."